John Oliver Urges Disney to Support Jimmy Kimmel Amid ABC Suspension

John Oliver has strongly defended Jimmy Kimmel following ABC and Disney's decision to indefinitely suspend Kimmel's late-night show after his remarks about the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Oliver criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger for yielding to political pressure, particularly from FCC Chair Brendan Carr and ABC affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair, who pulled Kimmel's program from their stations. He condemned this as government censorship and warned other late-night hosts, including Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, could also be targeted. Oliver emphasized that Kimmel's comments were not about Kirk's death itself but a critique of the political exploitation of the tragedy by certain factions. He urged Disney to stand firm against these pressures and resist what he called bullying tactics, highlighting that appeasing such demands only emboldens aggressors. The controversy has sparked widespread debate about free speech, political influence in media, and corporate responses to government pressure.